My plans to become a producing farmer, was coming along just fine. Bush had asked me whether we could work out a plan, in which I give the ground, the money and the seeds, and he would then do all the work, and in the end we would split the profit. I thought it a very workable plan, as Bush is a very reliable kind of Zimbabwean, who have nothing left really in Zimbabwe, and is trying to make a living here.
But before the tractor could come and do the ploughing, a lot of the Black Wattle trees, which are invaders, had to be felled, and that of course was Bush's job. He worked like a lunatic, felling the trees, then axed off the branches before bringing it up to store next to the house. And all the time he was smiling broadly, and kept on telling me that we were going to become very rich indeed. I think for the poverty stricken Zimbabweans, it would be riches indeed if they had a hundred dollars in their pockets!
The black Wattle's wood make for very nice firewood, as it is a hard wood that burns quite slowly. It was just a pity that it was still wet, as the winter had already arrived, and I needed wood promptly.
I have now moved down to the bottom bedroom, firstly because a mouse had died in my roof just above my bedroom, and the smell was so bad that I could not even enter the room. Nor could I found the mouse's body, as I am a bitty scared nowadays to climb around in the rafters, my legs and body not as supple and strong as it used to be!!
But I found the bottom bedroom so sunny and bright in the early mornings, as the two windows let the wonderful winter sun peep through the glass, covering the room in blissful warmth! Just absolutely wonderful, and I find it very hard to lift my lazy bones from the bed! I don't think I will be moving back, although this room was quite far from the kitchen.
The tractor in the meantime was paid, as it had to be done beforehand, people here not always so willing to pay after the job was done, and that is according to the tractor driver. As I said before, the tractor belonged to the people of haarlem, and the amount payable is really very small. So now it is just a case of Bush clearing the trees, before the man would come.